Companies - tax saving opportunities

Pre-year end tax planning is an important consideration and this factsheet outlines some of the key areas. Topics covered include corporation tax, capital allowances, dividends payments and capital gains.

Tax saving opportunities often need to be considered prior to the year end of the company or prior to the tax year end of the individuals who are shareholders or directors of the company. At Renaissance Accountants, we can provide pre-year end tax planning advice for your company in the Canary Wharf area.

Due to the ever changing tax legislation and commercial factors affecting your company, it is advisable to carry out an annual review of your company's tax position.

Pre-year end tax planning is important as the current year's results can normally be predicted with some accuracy and time still exists to carry out any appropriate action.

We outline below some of the areas where advance planning may produce tax savings.

Corporation tax

Advancing expenditure

Expenditure incurred before the company's accounts year end may reduce the current year's tax liability.

In situations where expenditure is planned for early in the next accounting year, the decision to bring forward this expenditure by just a few weeks can advance the related tax relief by a full 12 months.

Examples of the type of expenditure to consider bringing forward include:

building repairs and redecorating

advertising and marketing campaigns

redundancy and closure costs.

Note that payments into company pension schemes are only allowable for tax purposes when the payments are actually made as opposed to when they are charged in the company's accounts.

Capital allowances

Consideration should also be given to the timing of capital expenditure on which capital allowances are available to obtain the optimum reliefs.

Single companies irrespective of size are able to claim an Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) which provides 100% relief on expenditure on plant and machinery (excluding cars). The maximum amount of the AIA depends on the date of the accounting period and the date of expenditure. The AIA from 1 January 2016 is £200,000 however from 1 January 2019 this will increase to £1 million for two years. Thereafter it will revert to £200,000. Companies with accounting periods which straddle 1 January 2019 will be entitled to calculate a hybrid allowance using the two rates. Complex rules may apply to the straddle period AIA calculation.

Where purchases exceed the AIA, a writing down allowance (WDA) is due on any excess in the same period.

Groups of companies have to share the allowance. Expenditure on qualifying plant and machinery in excess of the AIA is eligible for writing down allowance (WDA) of 18%. Where the capital expenditure is incurred on integral features the WDA is 8% (reducing to 6% from April 2019).

Limited allowances are also available for investments in certain types of building.

Trading losses

Companies incurring trading losses have three main options to consider in utilising these losses:

they can be set against any other income (for example bank interest) or capital gains arising in the current year

they can be carried back for up to one year and set against total profits

they can be carried forward and set against profits arising from different types of income in future years.

There is a restriction on the use of carry forward losses where a company’s or group’s losses are in excess of £5 million. Profits cannot be reduced by more than 50% by brought forward losses. Losses that have arisen at any time are subject to these restrictions.

Extracting profits

Directors/shareholders of family companies may wish to consider extracting profits in the form of dividends rather than as increased salaries or bonus payments.

This can lead to substantial savings in national insurance contributions (NICs).

Note however that company profits extracted as a dividend remain chargeable to corporation tax at a minimum of 19% (reducing to 17% from 1 April 2020).

Dividends

From the company’s point of view, timing of payment is not critical, but from the individual shareholder’s perspective, timing can be an important issue. A dividend payment in excess of the Dividend Allowance which is delayed until after the tax year ending on 5 April may give the shareholder an extra year to pay any further tax due. The Dividend Allowance is £2,000 for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

The deferral of tax liabilities on the shareholder will be dependent on a number of factors. Please contact us for detailed advice.

Loans to directors and shareholders

If a 'close' company (broadly, one controlled by its directors or by five or fewer shareholders) makes a loan to a shareholder, this can give rise to a tax liability for the company.

If the loan is not settled within nine months of the end of the accounting period, the company is required to make a payment equal to 32.5% of the loan to HMRC. The money is not repaid to the company until nine months after the end of the accounting period in which the loan is repaid by the shareholder.

A loan to a director may also give rise to a tax liability for the director on the benefit of a loan provided at less than the market rate of interest.

Rates of tax

The main rate of corporation tax is currently 19%. The rates for future years are:

19% for the Financial Years beginning on 1 April 2018 and 2019

17% for the Financial Year beginning on 1 April 2020.

Self assessment

Under the self assessment regime most companies must pay their tax liabilities nine months and one day after the year end.

Companies which pay (or expect to pay) tax at the main rate are required to pay tax under the quarterly accounting system. If you require any further information on the quarterly accounting system, we have a factsheet which summarises the system.

Corporation tax returns must be submitted within twelve months of the year end and are required to be submitted electronically. In cases of delay or inaccuracies, interest and penalties will be charged

Capital Gains

Companies are chargeable to corporation tax on their capital gains less allowable capital losses.

Planning of disposals

Consideration should be given to the timing of any chargeable disposals to minimise the tax liability. This could be achieved (depending on the circumstances) by accelerating or delaying sales and the availability of losses or the feasibility of rollover relief (see below) should also be considered.

Purchase of new assets

It may be possible to avoid a capital gain being charged to tax if the sale proceeds are reinvested in a replacement asset.

The replacement asset must be acquired in the four year period beginning one year before the disposal, and only certain trading tangible assets qualify for relief.

How we can help

Tax saving opportunities for companies can only be achieved if an appropriate course of action is planned in advance. It is therefore vital that professional advice is sought at an early stage. If your company is in the Canary Wharf area we would welcome the chance to tailor a plan to your specific circumstances. Please do not hesitate to contact us at Renaissance Accountants.